I'm just so fat, how and where do I start? Overwhelmed.

[Fantasisa]

I'm 18stones, it has crept on over the last five years. I was previously a fit an active person.

I just do not know where to start, my size is starting to limit my activities. I can't wear any of my nice clothes, my wedding ring doesn't fit anymore etc. But I am utterly overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

I want something sustainable - I don't like things like SW/WW as the meetings make me cringe and I don't find them motivational. But I need to change and I need to change now.

I have a very, very busy life working FT and caring for small DC (when the weight piled on) and an elderly relative. I could exercise before work but I'm just so damn tired all the time. I don't even know where to buy jogging bottoms that fit, my tummy is now an overhang which is uncomfortable.

Help please! Advice or motivational stories most welcome.

When I remember to do so I take bento to work - it's simply a packed lunch that isn't sandwiches and often in parts - most bento boxes have compartments. I try to do meal prep on Sundays and Mondays such as spiral veg and omlette making as well as dressings for packed lunches. It is a eye-opener how much sugar is in savory foods as well as sodium both of which accelerate weight gain.

What I've found helpful when losing weight in the past has been to eat similar food to what I would normally chose but to change the make up of my plate so that there is a much higher proportion of vegetables. I think that some of the pre-made carb replacements can be useful here e.g. Replacing a portion of rice with half rice, half vegetable rice, or using mashed swede & carrot instead of potato, or roasted butter nut squash.

Home made veg soup is really good either for a snack, with a sandwich for lunch or as a starter for your evening meal.

A previous poster has suggested some really good snack ideas with small pieces of cheese, chicken (or quorn slices), hard boiled egg if you like it for some protein as this fills you up more. Obviously chopped fruit and veg like carrot sticks. I have normally eaten diet cake bars but if you can avoid these I think it's better for you and they can actually affect your blood sugar and make you hungrier.

Also I noticed you said you like s latte? I generally have a rule of no calories in drinks apart from alcohol so I would always choose an Americano with skimmed milk.

I think that both Slimming World and Weight Watchers can work, including long term if you follow what is printed in the booklets you get from the companies rather than suggestions given in the meeting e.g. Avoid the cakes made from scan bran and muller light - whereas the proper SW recommendation would be fat free Greek yogurt with strawberries. Slimming World SP is a lower carb plan and avoids muller lights.

Of course it's all very well knowing what we could or should do; what works for others and what has worked for ourselves in the past. The hardest thing is being on the right place in your head to just go for it and stick with it. I wish I could follow my own advice!

@exparrot, it definitely feels like giving up smoking! I’m quite snappy too! I’ve lost 2lbs which is less than I was hoping for but I’m continuing and not using it as a reason to think ‘fuck it’. I already feel more like myself, I think the change in mindset just makes me feel a bit more in control.

I even sat in a cafe with friends today at 11 and just had a latte, I know I could make a better choice than that but my friends had cake too and I felt fine so I’m happy to keep the caffeine going for now!

fantasisa 2lbs down is good. All those small decreases will amount to a big one if you keep going.

It's always nice to see big losses but in the past I found that in the end it just leads to giving up later and piling on more than you lost.

I use an app on my phone to plot weight and whilst I have had no or small losses such as 200g in a week it shows the overall trend and I can see how they have now amounted to a big loss overall with the graph clearly going down. It's much more motivating that looking at an individual weigh in. Mine also splits the goal into milestones so I don't focus on the end goal I just focus on getting to the next milestone. Would something like that work for you?

@WhoAteMyNuts I like the sound of the app that plots your weight, which one do you use?

I use an iPhone and it's called 'Happy Scale'. Not sure if it's on Android as well.

I only use the free version but that's more than enough as I can see the graphs and milestones and can tweak them for what I want and it's very easy to use as it's just for tracking and plotting weight.

@Fantasisa 2lbs is fab, think of it as a bag of sugar off your tummy. Even 8oz is good, it's a block of lard from your thigh.

Whoatemynuts, what scales do you have please?

Argh I could have written this - just found this post and I need to motivate myself. I look awful, I feel awful, I'm actually embarrassed to meet up with family and people who I haven't seen in a while. A man offered me his seat on the tube (I'm 46). I no longer even try to squeeze into the middle seat of three on the train and feel shameful that I'm taking up too much space. Two size 20 raincoats I bought last week didn't fit.

So can I follow you and hopefully get motivated myself? I know all the food facts but literally can't stop the 6pm sugar cravings. The kids lunchbox kitkats. A pack of mini haribo just to get through until dinner.

Well done on making a start OP. I'd like to boot camp too but like most people that kind of thing is not affordable financially or time wise!!!

dontdoubtyourself they are just ordinary digital bathroom scales. For the app you still have to input your weight manually but it's great to be able to clearly track and chart it.

I was nearly 19 stone mid February and thought I need to do something. I feel so ashamed also but I have lost weight gradually and now weight 17.6 . It is hard work and I feel like I am depriving myself somehow but I feel better already and am aiming for not looking like a beached whale on holiday in August. My GP has prescribed Orlistat don't know if they have made a difference or not.
Keep the faith and try and tackle each day as it comes. If you had a bad day forget it and move on

These are ordinary digital scales, they are cheap and accurate, with small increments,great reviews but not Bluetooth. I didn't want my weight bluetoothing to the wrong phone.
They have helped me loose 3 stone.

@vickibee, well done! What is orlistat?

@chalkyc2, stay and read and post! I'm trying not to worry too much about what I eat for my main meals (my rule seems to be to make the best choice I can cope with) but what I'm trying to do is break the cycle of my snacking as that is where the vast majority of my excess calories comes from.

Then if and when I feel like I have tackled that then I can start to look more closely at the meals I have and how I can improve them. This way feels less overwhelming to me. For example, last night I had weetabix when I got my mid evening snacking urges now I realise that might not be any better for me but it is much better step than scoffing a packet of bakewell slices!

it is a pill that reduces the body's absorption of fat, 3 pills per day taken with your meals. Some side effects like increases wind and runny stools if you eat the wrong foor. I think it kind of encourages you to stay away from foods high in fat to avoid embarrassing moments LOL.
I have tried food swaps so sweet potato wedges instead of chips, cauliflower rice etc. Snack on nuts instead of chocolate, Cut out biscuits crisps etc completely although I did have a mini magnum yesterday :(
Even joined a gym on a 3 month trial period

As a direct result of this thread (and Friday being my day off work!) I have been for a 2K jog and had eggs for breakfast!!

@chalkyc2
I can not jog, do brisk walking instead. Unfortunately have athritis in my left knee after a serious injury and it limits what I can do
I love poached eggs on toast for brekky

My brother was prescribed Orlistat and didn’t like it at all, because of the bloating and runny stools you get from eating fatty foods like biscuits, chocolate, cakes and take aways.

So he ate lots of sweets like starburst, haribos and fruit pastilles and drank large bottles of diet drinks instead - surprisingly enough he didn’t lose weight. And he developed type 2 diabetes ( which was probably on the cards anyway ).

Now he tells people that he tried dieting but it didn’t work .

I’m blaming his stupidly not the drug BTW. It obviously works for some people.

By prescription only Saxenda is a daily injection that suppresses appetite.
You actually have to make sure you eat enough. It’s new.

Saxenda seems a total farce. 56 weeks of daily injections with diet and exercise showed an 8% weightloss.

And it says side effects include thyroid tumours and cancer.

Well today hasn’t been a good day - did well until I accidentally missed lunch (disorganisation again) and then had a Danish pastry on the go. Then had dinner out with extended family and then rounded off my evening with tea and biscuits. Meal out was mediocre so wasn’t even worth it which was a shame. Well done to the PP who went running! I can’t run but I might start throwing in some walks soon.